Protective clasp to prevent untying shoelaces



April 6, 1965 E. TAMES 3,176,362

PROTECTIVE CLASP TO PREVENT UNTYING SHOELACES Filed Dec. 9, 1963 l lum-lxl-lnl-lll will. any!!! rllllllllz \II INVENOR ESTH ER TAMES A TTOPIVEKS' United States Patent 3,176,362 PROTECTIVE CLASP TO PREVENT UNTYING SHOELACES Esther Tames, 837 E. 22nd St, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 328,841 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-120) This invention relates to a clasp for preventing tied shoelaces from untying.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an ornamental accessory which can be used to engage a shoelace bow or knot and prevent the same from loosening.

Another object is to provide a shoelace clasp including an oval frame having holes through which two shoelaces can be passed, and another frame hinged to the oval frame and provided with teeth for engaging parts of the tied shoelaces.

A further object is to provide a clasp as described, including an ornamental cover over the other frame adapted to receive and conceal part of the bow or knot in the shoelaces.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,

, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

vention shown mounted in place on the upper of a shoe.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device on an enlarged scale, shown in open position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device on a further enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the device.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the device in open position with a shoelace bow held thereon.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the clasp device 10 embodying the invention. The device includes a first frame member 12 in the form of a generally oval flat plate. Two spaced holes 14 are provided in this plate on its major axis, near opposite ends of the plate. Pivotally secured to frame plate 12 by a hinge 16 is another generally oval flat frame member 18. This member has a central aperture 21 with teeth 20 extending inwardly from its edge. At opposite ends of frame member 18 are arcuate portions 22. These arcuate portions are disposed in axial alignment and permit parts of shoelace bows B to be passed therethrough.

A cover member 24 can be attached to the frame member 18 by cement 26. This cover member can be a synthetic stone or plastic button. The cover member 24 has a recess 28 therein to receive the knot K of the bows B.

A catch finger 30 is provided on the edge of frame member 12. It has a lip 33 which engages in a recess 32 in the cover member as shown in FIG. 6, and to hold the device in a closed position. The device 10 is shown closed in FIG. 1 and disposed on the shoe upper U tied end of shoelace S. The ends E of the shoelace are tied together to form bows B which extend outwardly of opposite ends of the device.

The arcuate portions 22 of frame member 18 may have ribs or teeth 23 extending transversely across the bow ends to engage the same. The knot K of the bow is engaged by the teeth 20 of frame member 18. The knot is also held in the recess 28 of cover member 24.

FIG. 2 shows the device 10 in open position with ends E of shoelace S passing through holes 14 and ready to be tied into a knot over the plate 12.

FIG. 7 shows the knot K which hasbeen tied in the ends of the shoelace lying on plate 12 and ready to be enclosed in cover member 24. FIGS. 3-6 show the device in closed position.

If desired, the ornamental cover member 24 can be omitted, but in general it is preferred that it be provided since it serves to conceal the knot K and to assist the frame member 18 in holding the tied shoelace and preventing it from coming loose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A clasp for preventing a tied shoelace from untying, comprising a first frame member having a pair of spaced holes near opposite ends thereof for passing ends of the shoelace therethrough, a second frame member hinged to an edge of the first frame member for closing thereover, said second frame member having a central aperture for receiving a knot tied in the ends of the shoelace and having arcuate end portions for passing ends of the shoelace beyond the knot and outside of the second frame member, whereby the knot is prevented from loosening and untying when the second frame member is closed over the first frame member, inner edges of said central portion being formed with teeth to engage said knot, said arcuate portions being formed with ribs extending toward the first frame member for engaging the ends of the shoelace passing therethrough.

2. A clasp for preventing a tied shoelace from untying, comprising a first frame member having a pair of spaced holes near opposite ends thereof for passing ends of the shoelace therethrough, a second frame member hinged to an edge of the first frame member for closing thereover, said second frame member having a central aperture for receiving a knot tied in the ends of the shoelace and having arcuate end portions for passing ends of the shoelace beyond the knot and outside of the second frame member, whereby the knot is prevented from loosening and untying when the second frame member is closed over the first frame member, inner edges of said central portion being formed with teeth to engage said knot, and a cover member secured to said second frame member, said cover member having a recess therein for receiving said knot and holding the same engaged with said other second frame member.

3. A clasp for preventing a tied shoelace from untying, comprising a first frame member having a pair of spaced holes near opposite ends thereof for passing ends of the shoelace therethrough, a second frame member hinged to an edge of the first frame member for closing thereover, said second frame member having a central aperture for receiving a knot tied in the ends of the shoelace and having arcuate end portions for passing ends of the shoelace beyond hte knot and outside of the second frame member, whereby the knot is prevented from loosening and untying when the second frame member is closed over the first frame member, and a cover member secured to said second frame member, said cover member having a recess therein for receiving said knot and holding the same engaged with said other second frame member.

4. A clasp for preventing a tied shoelace from untying, comprising a first frame member having a pair of spaced over, said second frame'memb'e'r havinga central aperture forreceiving 'a knot tied in theends ofjthe shoelace and having arcuate end portions for passing ends of the shoelace beyond the knotandoutside of the secondframe member, whereby the knot is prevented from loosening and 'untying when thesecond frame member. i's vclosed over the first frame member,'inner edges of 'said central portion being formed with teeth to engage said knot, and a .1

shoelace beyond the knot and outside of the frame memcover member secured to saidsecond framem'ember saidJ 1 b frami Plate when theqffame member closed cover member having a recess therein for receiving said 7 knot and holding the same'engaged with said other second frame membensaid first framefmember and said cover member havingmutually engaging catch meansfor h0lding the cover member'and 'secondfframe member closed .r

'over the firstframe member. 7 7

g p I V a p 5. A clasp for preventing a tied shoelace from untying; comprising an oval frame plate having a' pair of spaced holes near ,oppositeendsthereof for passing ends of the shoelace therethrough; an'oval frame member hinged at oneedgethereof to an edge of said frameplatefor clos; V 1 7:

ing thereover; said frame member having a centralfaperover the frame' tplatepsaid central aperture having inwardly extending teeth" for engaging 'said knot, and an oval ornamentalcover. member secured to said frame,

' member; said frame member having a recess therein for receiving" said knot and holding the same engaged said frame member and frame plate.

v 6, A clasp for preventingia tied shoelace from untying, comprising an oval frame plate having a pair of spaced 'hol'es' near opposite ends thereof for'passing ends of the I shoelace therethroughyan oval frame member hinged at with one edgejthereof toan edge of said frame plate for clos- "ing th ereover,saidfrarne memberhaving a central aperture for receiving a knot tied in the ends of the shoelace and having arcuate end'portions for passing ends of the over the frame.plate,' said central aperture having iriwardly extending teethlfor engaging said knot, and an oval ornamental "cover member secured to said frame member, said fr ame member having a recess therein for receivinggsaid knot and holding the same engaged withsaid framev member and frame'pla'te, said vframe plate having a catch element engageable with said cover'memher to hold-the cover member and frame member closed over said frame plate. i g

n References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 670 561 3/01 Hoe'gerna'nn 24 '120 878,129 2/08 Downer 24-120 11,439,241 12/22'1Ho t 24-120 1,696,790 :12/28 'Bongiovannii' e 2 4117 jj I FOREIGN'PATENTS e "8,702, 1890 Great'Britain. j

DIYOINLVEYY JhSTOCKING, Primar xaminer; 

1. A CLASP FOR PREVENTING A TIED SHOELACE FROM UNTYING, COMPRISING A FIRST FRAME MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED HOLES NEAR OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF FOR PASSING ENDS OF THE SHOELACE THERETHROUGH, A SECOND FRAME MEMBER HINGED TO AN EDGE OF THE FIRST FRAME MEMBER FOR CLOSING THEREOVER, SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE FOR RECEIVING A KNOT TIED IN THE ENDS OF THE SHOELACE AND HAVING ARCUATE END PORTIONS FOR PASSING ENDS OF THE SHOELACE BEYOND THE KNOT AND OUTSIDE OF THE SECOND FRAME MEMBER, WHEREBY THE KNOT IS PREVENTED FROM LOSSENING AND UNTYING WHEN THE SECOND FROME MEMBER IS CLOSED OVER THE FIRST FRAME MEMBER, INNER EDGES OF SAID 